Decision makers

Take Action to End the World Water Crisis

As Americans, we take for granted that every house has a faucet with safe water and a toilet that keeps our personal waste from human contact.

Yet an estimated 748 million people around the world rely on unsafe water sources, and 2.5 billion people live without proper sanitation.

This is a big deal for kids: diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections (pneumonia) are the two top child killers, and kids who lack access to drinkable water and proper sanitation are at much greater risk of dying.

Clean water and good sanitation do more than just save lives, they help children succeed. When children no longer struggle with stomach problems, they can go to school. When parents don’t have to care for sick children, they can work and earn an income. When schools have proper sanitation facilities, that helps keep kids in school -- especially girls.